Our guide to English

First published date September 10 2013Amended date April 17 2015

Most of us (though increasingly, not all of us) speak English on a daily basis, and although that may be sufficient to a certain level, there’s always room for improvement, from structuring better sentences and increasing your vocabulary to using Business English for work and transporting yourself to a different time through English Literature. There are also a large number of people in the UK who don't really speak English at all and are keen to take a language course in order to grasp this complex language. Don’t worry, you won’t be put through tricky pronunciation techniques - in fact, you may find it to be a really rewarding and enjoyable experience.

Whether you're an improver or starting to learn from scratch, with our comprehensive list of English courses in the UK, you’re sure to find one suitable for all your needs.

Read on to see which course would suit you best.

What will you learn?

On most English courses, your confidence will develop as you learn to read, write, speak and listen in English. Building a strong foundation will involve

writing sentences

accurate spelling

correct punctuation usage.

Progress to more advanced levels and you will learn how to master grammar and expand your vocabulary. At the end of the courses, you will have had a good grasp of communication and presentation skills, and have gained a professional qualification for university entrances or work.

English courses range from GCSEs and A Levels that might look at literature to beginners and advanced English language classes. You can either be a native or non-native English speaker, and still find loads of suitable courses.

You can get the best of both worlds with English!

Whilst many people have to decide between a gap year, a sabbatical, or even quit a job to travel; teaching English and travelling, all at the same time is possible! Teaching English abroad not only satisfies your travel bug, but also earns you enough money to survive. Qualifications like TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), or TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) allow you to work in bustling, culturally-rich countries like Vietnam or even in small quiet villages in India. If you love doing humanitarian work, then a TESOL or TEFL qualification will open up doors for voluntary work, where you’ll be able to teach English to some of the world’s poorest children and it’s also a great way to give back to the community.

Keep calm and learn English

If your past, present and future tenses confuse you and you can’t differentiate your verbs from your adjectives, then take up English Grammar courses. Or, if you’re a non English native, ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) courses can equip you with a strong foundation in reading, writing, speaking and listening skills – perfect for everyday life, work and study.

Othello, Pride and Prejudice or Great Expectations –which is your favourite?

Do you love how stories are written so that they even have their own stories to tell beneath the surface, giving you a glimpse of the author and time they were written? Or how words can mean one thing but take on an entirely different meaning when written on the page of a certain book? Are poems, Mr. Darcy and English history your obsession? If you’re in love with them, English literaturecourses will teach you all the literary techniques and traditions you need to know. You’ll develop the ability to analyse literary texts and communicate complex literary arguments using appropriate technical terminology. In fact, you’ll finally be able to understand what Lady Macbeth means by this: ‘Yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full o’ the milk of human kindness; To catch the nearest way.’

Did you know?

The oldest English word is ‘town.’

The shortest word containing all five main vowels is ‘eunoia’, meaning beautiful thinking or a state of normal mental health.